Chess

[Gustaran]

I also didn't realize that I could have lost even when it was down to the queen vs. 7th-rank pawn - very nice!

You couldn't have lost, but your opponent could have drawn.

To prove I'm not a complete end-game doofus, I did just win one

http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=76193674

Though I'm sure I made plenty of mistakes in that one too....

Your opponent has the most well known position of all drawn rook endgames if he just doesn't trade rooks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philidor_po...ersus_rook

[uberfish]

I'm up for a new match (also in favour of more discussion)

[uberfish]

And what on earth is with chess.com tactics trainer problems where the solution is just to take a hanging piece? lol

[Gustaran]

And what on earth is with chess.com tactics trainer problems where the solution is just to take a hanging piece? lol

Since your tactic rating is approaching 2000 and you posted a very similar example from one of your games recently, I want to offer this tricky position from Kuzmin-Sveshnikov 1973 if you look for something more challenging (White to move):

[Rowain]

My idea was
Bxh7+ Kxh7; Qh5+ Kg8; Bxg7 Kxg7 (else Qh8#); Qg4 and Rf3 to finish

But looking up the real game Nb6 Nxb6; happened first (rest is as above) so I wondered if the Knight interlude is necessary and why.

and I saw that without it Black can go 1... Kh8 and answer 2.Qh5 with 2... Nf6

this seeing too late is why I do suck on playing real games

[Gustaran]

@Rowain

My idea was
Bxh7+ Kxh7; Qh5+ Kg8; Bxg7 Kxg7 (else Qh8#); Qg4 and Rf3 to finish

But looking up the real game Nb6 Nxb6; happened first (rest is as above) so I wondered if the Knight interlude is necessary and why.

The Nb6 interlude is indeed the point.

and I saw that without it Black can go 1... Kh8 and answer 2.Qh5 with 2... Nf6

this seeing too late is why I do suck on playing real games

If
1. Bxh7+ Kh8
2. Qh5 Nf6
3. Bxf6 and mates

Keep in mind that this is quite an advanced tactic between two Grandmasters. Seeing the double bishop sacrifice is already good and as you can see finding the correct defense for Black is not trivial even if White doesn't play Nb6.

[pindicator]

Gustaran, I was in the middle of typing that!

I did not see the Nb6 part, but I was going to ask Rowain about Bxf6

Also, I need to start playing again. Anybody up for a match to help get the rust off?

[Rowain]

@Gustaran

Yeah Nf6 doesn't do anything but so far I have not found a way which makes the Nb6 necessary. Everything I came up with is either costing so much that black has to resign anyway or is useless. I'm looking forward to hear the explanation

[novice]

@Rowain

Won't Nxf4 cause problems in your line?

[Rowain]

@Rowain

Won't Nxf4 cause problems in your line?

If
Bxh7+ Kxh7; Qh5 Kg8; Bxg7 then Nxf4 does nothing ass Qh8 mates.

if
Bxh7+ Kxh7; Qh5 Kg8; Bxg7 Kxg7; Qg4+ Kh7; Rf3 and now Nf4; Wouldn't Rxf4 simple kill the Knight and what is the benefit for black? It is well possible that I miss something there